The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law is proud to announce the winners and finalists of the Fourth Annual CSL Prize in Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing competition. This prestigious event was held in conjunction with the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference (JCOW) from February 20-22, 2025.
The competition welcomed participants from across the nation, all of whom are poised to begin their roles as clerks in federal or state appellate courts in the coming year. Over two days, attendees received expert instruction in judicial opinion writing from renowned jurists serving as faculty. Each participant then crafted a concise judicial opinion addressing a First Amendment issue, based on a problem drafted by the Columbus School of Law. The submissions were judged anonymously by the JCOW faculty, with evaluation focused solely on writing excellence.
The 2025 competition's top honor was awarded to Will Vickery. Tiffany Dunkin and Chris Chambers tied for second place. Three additional finalists were recognized: Stephen Privat (Tulane University Law School), Ben Titus (University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law), and Taylor Graves (University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law).
Spotlights on the first and second-place recipients follow below:
First Place
Will Vickery, who earned degrees in philosophy and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019, is set to graduate from Notre Dame Law School in May 2025. Following graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas during the 2025-2026 term and for the Honorable Kurt Engelhardt of the Fifth Circuit during the 2026-2027 term.
Reflecting on his experience at JCOW, Vickery highlighted the conference’s unique value for aspiring law clerks. “The Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from some of the federal judiciary’s top writers and thinkers. Hearing circuit judges discuss what makes a judicial opinion truly exceptional was both fascinating and enlightening. It’s also a fantastic chance to connect with future clerks from across the country. I highly recommend JCOW to fellow law students.”
Click here to learn more about Vickery.
Second Place (tie)
Chris Chambers, a graduate of Purdue University Global, is set to complete his J.D. at Notre Dame Law School in May 2025. Following graduation, he will serve as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Kristi H. Johnson of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi during the 2025-2026 term.
Reflecting on the JCOW experience, Chambers highlighted the conference's impact on both his professional growth and connections. "The conference offered a rare opportunity to master the intricacies of judicial writing, a skill often overlooked in traditional law school curricula. Engaging directly with judges provided invaluable insights into the precision and structure required for court opinions. Connecting with fellow incoming clerks allowed us to discuss shared challenges, exchange ideas, and foster meaningful relationships ahead of our clerkships. I left with a wealth of practical tools to refine my writing for the future."
Click here to learn more about Chambers.
Tiffany Dunkin holds a degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University School of Law in August 2024. Following graduation, she will serve as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Joel Carson III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Roswell, New Mexico, during the 2025-2026 term.
Reflecting on her experience at JCOW, Dunkin emphasized the conference’s value for future law clerks. “The most valuable part of the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference was hearing directly from federal judges about their approaches to opinion writing. We also received personalized feedback from judges on our draft opinions, offering a rare chance to discuss our work with them before starting our clerkships. Thanks to this experience, I feel significantly more prepared to begin my clerkship.”
Click here to learn more about Dunkin.